Once you begin dating again after your divorce, things can become tricky if you have kids. Making new partner introductions might be one of the trickiest of them all. However, there are some ways you can make it easier for everyone involved…
New Partner Introductions
Timing is everything
Timing is very important when making new partner introductions. Your kids are going to need some time to process your divorce. That means adjusting to a one-parent household, and having to visit their other parent. Bringing in a new partner too soon could cause them to react very negatively to the change.
That’s why you need to make sure your kids have had some time to accept how things are different. It’s also a good idea to talk the them ahead of time to see how they’re feeling. That will let you see how they still feel, and if it would be a good idea to introduce someone new into the mix.
Brace for reactions
Even if you give your kids some time to adjust, new partner introductions might not always go smoothly. Sometimes, your kids might have pretty strong reactions, and not in a positive way. They may hate the idea of a new partner “replacing” their other parent. Sometimes, they also see a new partner as a “rival” for your love and attention.
Still, while initial reactions may be harsh, that doesn’t mean everything is lost. Rather, your kids just need some reassurance. Talk to them and help alleviate those fears or concerns they might have. Doing so will help them warm up a bit more to the idea of having your new partner around.
Meet at a neutral space
Don’t forget to consider where and how you do new partner introductions as well. It might seem simple enough to just meet at your house. Still, this could be a bit awkward for your kids. As a result, it might be better to meet at a more neutral location for the first time.
Some people like to meet at parks, or out at a restaurant. A good idea is to ask your kids for their feedback. See what kind of ideas they come up with. The suggestions they give will clue you in on what kind of locations they’d feel the most comfortable at.